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Williams ruled out of North Korea clash

Australia will travel to DPR (North) Korea today for their final Olympic Games qualifier without striker David Williams who suffered a hamstring injury in last night’s stirring 2-0 win over Iraq in Gosford.

Australia will travel to DPR (North) Korea today for their final Olympic Games qualifier without striker David Williams who suffered a hamstring injury in last night-s stirring 2-0 win over Iraq in Gosford. The Queensland-born Williams who has been a regular throughout this year-s 14-match qualifying campaign incurred the injury after coming on as a 71-st substitute.

Omitted from the 20-strong squad are Adelaide United striker Dez Giraldi and Central Coast Mariners defender Nigel Boogaard who both were in camp this week for the Iraq match.

Williams joins a number of other key players already sidelined by injury including Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite, Newcastle Jets midfielder Stuart Musialik, midfielder Neil Kilkenny of English club Oldham and German-based defender Matthew Spiranovic of Bundesliga club Nuremberg.

Perth Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya has also been included in the traveling party, having been a late addition to the initial squad selected for the five-day camp leading into Saturday night-s match.

Australia need just a point from Wednesday-s match as they now sit three points clear of Iraq who will also complete their fixtures against Lebanon on Wednesday.

Australia have not missed a men-s Olympic football tournament since first attempting to qualify in 1988.

The 20-man Australian squad for the match against DPR Korea on Wednesday in Pyongyang is: